Something I would love to know more about are the #ElusinianMysteries. But thanks to the cult's secrecy (and #Christianity), we may never know all the details...

Elusinian Mysteries

There were two Eleusinian rites – the Lesser One, and the Greater One. While the details of these rites were a carefully guarded secret, what is known is that the Greater Rite took place over many days, involved #music and #dancing, #sacrifices of grain and a bull, #ritual purification in a river, and the consumption of a #SacredBeverage that was believed to be #hallucinogenic.
The beverage, known as #kykeon, was made from #barley, #pennyroyal, and other ingredients.

It is analogous to the Sacred #Soma / #Homa beverage of the #IndoIranians. While the Cult of #Eleusius was closed down by the #Christian #RomanEmporers, elements of the cult “survived in the Greek countryside,” into the rites of “#SaintDemetrius of #Thessalonki.”

#Rituals #RomanHistory #MysteryCults #AncientHistory #Histodon #WomensRights #RomanWomen #RomanPriestesses

The #Vestals

Young women from #Patrician-only families (later expanded to #Plebian families) were chosen to serve as Vestals. They had to remain celibate for 30 years, but after their service, were free to marry. Unlike most Roman women, they “were free to own property, make a will, and #vote.”

They were given the responsibility of maintaining #Vesta’s #SacredFire, “collecting water from a #SacredSpring, preparation of food used in rituals and caring for sacred objects in the temple's sanctuary.”

They made a special flour, “mola salsa,” that was “sprinkled on all public offerings” to the gods. They were also in charge of the safekeeping of wills and testaments of prominent people, such as Casear and
Marc Antony (Connelly, 219).

#VestalVirgins #RomanPriestesses #RomanWomen #History #RomanHistory #AncientHistory #Histodon #Autonomy #WomensRights #WomenVoting